Who says getting your hands dirty is just for kids? At Magnolia Pottery in Gdańsk, Klaudia Gutowska is bringing back the joy of making something with your own two hands. We sat down with her to talk creative chaos, questionable artistic talent, switching off from screens and why grown-ups seriously need to play more often.
ALWAYS CREATIVE, OR A LATE DISCOVERY?
Always! Dancing, cooking, pottery. I just never thought I could make a career of it. Until now!
WHO THOUGHT YOU’D LOST YOUR MIND?
Me! Luckily, my friends didn’t ask why. They asked how we’d make it happen.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevWHAT HAPPENS WHEN PHONES BECOME PAINTBRUSHES?
People slow down. Sometimes the studio falls completely silent. No screens, no pressure. Just creating.
NO ARTISTIC TALENT. WHAT HAPPENS?
Choose a mug, bowl or plate. We’ll help you paint it, then glaze and fire it above 1,000°C. Your masterpiece is ready a few days later!
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevSTRANGEST THING SOMEONE’S PAINTED?
Baby footprints, pet paw prints and wonderfully weird creations that make everyone laugh.
HAVE ADULTS FORGOTTEN HOW TO PLAY?
Absolutely! Everyone apologises for having no talent. But creativity isn’t an exam. Not everything needs to be productive.
WHAT DOES INSTAGRAM NEVER SHOW?
Cleaning brushes, glazing, firing and organising everyone’s pottery. Running a creative studio leaves little time to create!
YOUR LIFE ON A BLANK PLATE?
Dachshunds! My little sausage puppy takes up most of my life. The plate would be covered in them!
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevBIGGEST DISASTER SINCE OPENING?
Discovering that following your dream doesn’t eliminate fear. Financial worries and uncertainty are real. Sometimes you just have to jump.
THREE WORDS YOUR FRIENDS WOULD USE — AND THREE THEY SHOULDN’T?
Creative, caring, determined. The forbidden three? Overthinking, stubborn, chaotic. My brain has twenty tabs open!
At Magnolia Pottery, nobody cares if your masterpiece looks like it belongs in a gallery or your five-year-old nephew could have done better. That’s precisely the point. Klaudia has created a place where you can switch off, pick up a brush and remember what it’s like to create something simply because it’s fun. And the best part? You leave with something you’ve made yourself — wonky lines, questionable colour choices and all. Because sometimes the best things in life aren’t perfect. They’re personal.